How to sell a Westgate timeshare (and what actually works)

Last updated 2026-07-25

Can you actually sell a Westgate timeshare?

Technically yes, legally you can list and transfer a Westgate timeshare deed to another person. Practically, almost nobody will buy it for real money. The resale market for developer-sold timeshares, including Westgate, is close to worthless in dollar terms. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance on timeshares notes that resale values are typically far below what owners originally paid and that a timeshare "may be difficult, or even impossible, to sell" once the original purchase enthusiasm wears off ^[1]. Search eBay or a timeshare resale site and you'll see Westgate weeks and points packages listed for $1, sometimes with the seller offering to pay closing costs just to get rid of it. That doesn't mean selling is impossible. It means you need to reset your expectations before you spend a dollar trying. If you bought resale-priced (someone gave it away and you paid transfer fees only), you might find another taker the same way. If you paid Westgate's retail price, you are very unlikely to recover any of it through a sale. The honest first question isn't "how do I sell this" but "do I need to get out, or do I just need to stop the bleeding." If your maintenance fees are manageable and you actually use the resort, selling for zero and losing your vacation spot might not even be the right move. If you decide selling isn't realistic, look at how to get out of a timeshare for the full menu of exit paths beyond a sale.

How much is a Westgate timeshare actually worth?

$10,000 to $15,000 (smaller unit, off-season)	$0 to $500	Many list for $1 just to transfer
$20,000 to $30,000 (larger unit, prime season)	$500 to $2,000	Still far below purchase price
$30,000+ (presidential/premier units, points packages)	$1,000 to $3,000	Rare to find a buyer at all	These are rough market patterns, not appraisals, since Westgate doesn't publish resale data and there's no MLS-style system for timeshares. Treat any number here as directional, not a guarantee. If a company tells you your Westgate timeshare is worth close to what you paid and offers to list it for a big upfront fee, be skeptical. That claim doesn't match how this market has behaved for over a decade.

On the resale market, most Westgate timeshares are worth somewhere between $0 and a few hundred dollars, regardless of what you paid Westgate originally. Retail purchase prices for Westgate ownerships commonly range from roughly $10,000 to $40,000 or more depending on the resort, unit size, and season, based on typical developer pricing patterns reported across the timeshare resale industry. That gap, retail price versus resale value, is the single most important number to understand before you try to sell. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns that timeshares "generally do not increase in value" and that owners looking to exit often find little to no market for their contract ^[1]. This isn't a Westgate-specific problem. It's true across nearly every major developer brand: Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, Bluegreen, and Westgate all see the same pattern because timeshare purchase prices bake in sales commissions, marketing costs, and development overhead that a resale buyer never has to pay. Here's a rough sense of the gap: | What you paid Westgate | Typical resale value | Notes |

How to sell a Westgate timeshare step by step

If you still want to try selling, here's the order that avoids wasting money. First, check whether you're still inside your rescission period. Every state has a window after signing when you can cancel a timeshare purchase for a full refund, no reason needed. Florida, where Westgate is based and where many of its resorts sit, gives buyers a statutory cancellation period under Florida's timeshare law, Chapter 721; confirm your state's rescission window and the exact deadline before doing anything else, since the clock usually starts the day you sign or the day you receive the public offering statement, whichever is later ^[2]. If you're still inside that window, cancellation is faster and cleaner than any sale. Second, get a payoff statement and confirm your maintenance fee status. You can't transfer a deed with an outstanding developer loan or in some cases with delinquent fees, so know your numbers before you list anything. Third, contact Westgate directly and ask about their own transfer process or any deed-back/surrender program they currently offer. Developer-run exit or transfer programs change over time, so ask what's active right now rather than relying on old forum posts. Fourth, if Westgate has no deed-back option for your contract and you still want to sell to a third party, use a licensed real estate resale company or list it yourself, and never pay a large fee upfront for a promise of a quick sale. Legitimate resale brokers in most states are required to hold real estate or timeshare resale licenses, and commission is typically taken from the sale price, not charged upfront. Fifth, if a buyer is found, both sides typically use a licensed closing/title company to handle the deed transfer and make sure back fees and taxes are settled at closing. Skipping this step is how sellers end up still on the hook for fees years later because the deed was never properly recorded.

How do you get out of a Westgate timeshare if you can't sell it?

If a sale isn't realistic, your remaining options are rescission, a developer deed-back or surrender program, working with a legitimate transfer, or in rare cases legal action over the original sale. Rescission is the cleanest exit but only works in a short window right after purchase. If you're still inside it, cancel in writing, keep proof of delivery (certified mail or the method your contract specifies), and follow the exact instructions in your purchase documents. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's guidance on timeshare cancellation stresses reading your contract's cancellation clause carefully, since the process and deadline are set by state law and the contract itself ^[1]. If you're past rescission and current on your fees, ask Westgate whether they have a deed-back or surrender program active for your specific resort and contract type. Some developers accept deeds back with no cash exchanged, especially on older or fully paid-off contracts, to avoid the cost of foreclosing and reselling. Not every Westgate resort or contract qualifies, and terms change, so get any offer in writing before assuming it applies to you. If you're behind on payments or facing foreclosure, understand that most states treat a timeshare foreclosure similarly to a mortgage foreclosure: it can affect your credit and in some cases a lender can pursue a deficiency judgment for the unpaid balance, depending on state law ^[3]. Talk to a real estate attorney licensed in the state where the resort sits before assuming you can just walk away with no consequences. For a full breakdown of these paths in order, see how to get out of timeshare and how do you get out of a timeshare.

Does Westgate have a deed-back or surrender program?

Westgate has, at various points, worked with owners on transfer or surrender arrangements, but there's no single published, guaranteed program that applies to every owner, and terms shift. The only reliable way to know your options is to ask Westgate's owner services team directly what's currently available for your exact contract. Developer deed-back programs generally exist because it's cheaper for the resort to take a paid-off, low-value week back than to chase an owner through foreclosure. That means your odds of qualifying are usually better if your mortgage is paid off, you're current on maintenance fees, and the unit is a standard week rather than a premium or points-heavy contract. Don't assume a deed-back is free of consequences. Depending on how it's structured, you may still owe the current year's maintenance fees or any special assessment before Westgate will accept the deed. Get every condition in writing. If Westgate says no, that doesn't mean you're stuck forever. It means you move to the next option on the list: resale at low or no value, or working through a legitimate transfer path with proper legal paperwork.

Are timeshares scams?

Timeshares themselves are legal financial products, not scams, but the sales process has a long, well-documented history of high-pressure tactics, and a separate industry of exit scams preys specifically on owners trying to get out. The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against timeshare exit and resale companies for taking large upfront fees and failing to deliver promised cancellations ^[4]. The core rule to follow: a legitimate resale broker earns commission from a completed sale. A legitimate exit path doesn't require you to wire a few thousand dollars to a stranger who cold-called you. State attorneys general have also taken action. Florida's Attorney General office publishes consumer alerts specifically about timeshare resale and exit fraud, describing the same pattern: an unsolicited call, a claim they have a "buyer waiting," and a demand for payment before anything happens. So the honest answer is: the timeshare product is a real, regulated ownership interest, but the aggressive sales floor tactics and the predatory exit industry around it have earned the whole category a scam-adjacent reputation. Be skeptical of both the original sales pitch and the exit pitch. For a rundown of specific red flags, see timeshare exit companies and exit scam red flags.

How much do timeshares cost, and why does that matter for selling?

Timeshare purchase prices from major developers typically range from about $10,000 to $30,000 for a one-week or equivalent points package, though luxury units and larger point packages can run well over $50,000, based on pricing patterns reported across the industry. On top of that upfront price, owners pay annual maintenance fees, which the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes commonly run over $1,000 per year on average, with fees varying widely by resort and unit size ^[1]. Special assessments add another layer of cost. These are one-time charges resorts levy for major repairs or renovations, and they can run from a few hundred dollars to several thousand in a single year, on top of your regular maintenance fee. This cost structure explains why resale value is so low. A buyer looking at a Westgate week isn't just weighing the purchase price. They're weighing an ongoing annual fee obligation, with no cap guaranteed and no way to know when the next special assessment hits. That risk is priced in, and it's priced in hard. A resale buyer would rather pay $1 and take on the fee obligation than pay you $5,000 for the same obligation. If your goal is really to stop paying rising fees rather than to profit from a sale, selling at $0 to a willing transferee, or pursuing a deed-back, accomplishes the same financial goal as a $2,000 resale minus the hassle of finding a buyer.

How to get rid of a timeshare when nobody wants to buy it

When a sale genuinely isn't happening, you still have four real paths: rescission if you're new, a developer deed-back if you qualify, a legitimate transfer to someone willing to take it for free (with proper deed recording), or continuing to own it and managing costs directly. The path that gets people in trouble is the fifth option nobody should take: hiring an upfront-fee exit company that promises to "get you out" for $3,000 to $8,000 paid before any work happens. The FTC has sued and settled with timeshare exit companies over exactly this pattern of taking large advance fees and failing to deliver promised cancellations ^[4]. Before paying anyone, check their standing with your state attorney general's consumer protection office and with the Better Business Bureau, and ask specifically how and when you'd get a refund if they don't deliver. A calmer route many owners overlook: contact Westgate and simply ask what happens if you stop paying maintenance fees and let the timeshare go to foreclosure or attorney-initiated deed transfer. This isn't free of consequences, foreclosure can hit your credit and in some states you could face a deficiency claim ^[3], but understanding the actual mechanics (rather than guessing) lets you make a real decision instead of panicking into a scam offer. Never stop paying fees you legally owe as a strategy without first understanding your state's foreclosure and deficiency judgment rules, ideally with input from a real estate attorney in the state where the resort is located.

What are the warning signs of a timeshare exit scam?

The clearest warning sign is a large upfront payment demanded before any work is done, especially combined with a claim of an already-lined-up buyer or a promise that your cancellation is basically a done deal. Legitimate resale commissions come out of a completed sale, not before one. Other red flags the FTC and state AG offices consistently flag: unsolicited calls or emails claiming to have a "buyer already lined up" for your specific timeshare, pressure to decide within 24 to 48 hours, requests for payment by wire transfer or gift card instead of a traceable method, and refusal to put fee structure and refund terms in writing ^[4]. Ask any exit or resale company for their business license number, their physical address, and references you can independently verify. Search their name plus "complaint" or "attorney general" before signing anything. Florida's Attorney General office maintains consumer alert pages specifically warning about timeshare resale and exit fraud patterns, and it's worth checking whether a company you're considering has been named in one. If you want a structured way to organize documents, deadlines, and next steps yourself rather than paying a company thousands upfront, that's the gap our $149 one-time Exit Kit Builder is built for: a self-directed toolkit, not a company that contacts Westgate for you or promises a specific outcome. We don't contact Westgate on your behalf and we don't promise an outcome, but we do help you build the paperwork and sequence correctly.

How to get out of a timeshare through rescission (the fastest legitimate exit)

If you just signed a Westgate contract, your fastest and cheapest exit is canceling during your state's rescission period, a short legal window where you can cancel for any reason and get your money back. Every state sets its own rescission period length, and it typically runs from 3 to 15 days depending on the state, starting either at signing or at receipt of required disclosure documents. Florida's timeshare law, for example, sets its own statutory cancellation period and trigger date under Chapter 721 of the Florida Statutes; confirm your specific state's rescission window rather than assuming a number, since other states set different rules, and the countdown trigger (signing date versus disclosure receipt) matters ^[2]. To cancel, follow your contract's instructions exactly: most require a written notice, often by certified mail with return receipt, sent to the specific address in the contract, within the deadline. Keep copies of everything and proof of the mailing date. Don't rely on a phone call alone, even if a salesperson tells you it's fine, since rescission rights are documented in your contract's cancellation clause and typically require written notice ^[1]. If you're inside this window right now, stop reading and go handle the cancellation first. Every day matters. Once the window closes, you're in the much harder territory covered in the rest of this article.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get out of a Westgate timeshare fast?

If you're still inside your state's rescission window (often days, not weeks, after signing), cancel in writing immediately following your contract's instructions; that's the fastest legal exit. After that window closes, your options are Westgate's own deed-back or transfer program if you qualify, a low-or-no-value resale, or working with a licensed attorney on other legal grounds.

Can I just stop paying my Westgate maintenance fees?

You can, but it's not a strategy we'd recommend without understanding the consequences first. Unpaid fees typically lead to collections, credit damage, and potentially foreclosure, and depending on your state, a deficiency judgment for the remaining balance. Talk to a real estate attorney in the state where your resort sits before treating nonpayment as an exit plan.

How much is a Westgate timeshare worth on resale?

Most Westgate timeshares resell for $0 to a few thousand dollars regardless of original purchase price, which commonly ran $10,000 to $30,000 or more at retail. The resale market values the ongoing fee obligation, not the original price, which is why so many listings sit at $1.

Are timeshares a scam?

The ownership product itself is legal, but the sales process has a long history of high-pressure tactics, and a separate exit-scam industry targets owners trying to leave. The FTC has taken action against companies charging large upfront fees for exits that never happened, so treat both the original sale and any exit pitch with skepticism.

Does Westgate have a deed-back program?

Westgate has offered transfer or surrender arrangements for some owners at various times, but there's no single guaranteed program for every contract. Ask Westgate's owner services team directly what's currently available for your specific resort and contract type, and get any terms in writing before assuming you qualify.

How much does it cost to sell a timeshare?

If you use a licensed resale broker, commission typically comes out of the sale price, not upfront. Costs to watch for include closing/title fees for deed transfer, any current-year maintenance fees or special assessments the resort requires be settled first, and, if applicable, an outstanding developer loan payoff.

What happens if I can't find a buyer for my timeshare?

You still have paths beyond selling: a developer deed-back or surrender program if you qualify, a free transfer to a willing party with proper deed recording, or continuing ownership while managing fees directly. Foreclosure is also a possible outcome if fees go unpaid, with credit and, in some states, deficiency judgment consequences.

Is it legal to give away a timeshare for free?

Yes, as long as the deed transfer is done properly through a licensed closing or title company, with back fees and taxes settled and the new deed recorded with the county. Skipping proper recording is a common mistake that leaves the original owner still legally responsible for fees years later.

How long is the rescission period for a Westgate timeshare in Florida?

Florida sets a statutory cancellation period for timeshare purchases under Chapter 721 of the Florida Statutes, and the clock generally starts at signing or receipt of the public offering statement, whichever is later. Confirm the exact current day count and trigger date directly against Florida's timeshare statute or with a licensed attorney, since these details matter for a valid cancellation.

What's the difference between selling a timeshare and getting a deed-back?

Selling means transferring ownership to a new buyer, usually for little or no money given current resale values. A deed-back means the developer, Westgate in this case, agrees to take the deed back directly, typically with no buyer involved, often on paid-off contracts current on fees.

How do I know if a timeshare exit company is legitimate?

Check for a large upfront fee demand before any work is done, that's the main red flag the FTC and state attorneys general warn about. Verify business licensing, search the company name plus 'complaint' or 'attorney general', and ask for a written refund policy. Legitimate resale commission comes from a completed sale, not in advance.

Can I sell a Westgate timeshare that isn't paid off?

It's much harder. Most resale buyers and deed-back programs require the mortgage to be paid off first, since an outstanding loan complicates the deed transfer and title. If you still owe Westgate money on the contract, expect to pay it off, or find a buyer willing to assume the loan, before a sale can close.

Sources

1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What is a timeshare?": Timeshares generally do not increase in value and can be difficult or impossible to resell, with owners commonly facing significant annual maintenance fees
2. Florida Statutes Chapter 721 (Vacation and Timeshare Plans): Florida sets a statutory cancellation/rescission period for timeshare purchases and public offering statement disclosure requirements
3. Federal Trade Commission, "FTC Action Leads to Permanent Ban for Timeshare Exit Company Defendants": The FTC has taken enforcement action against timeshare exit companies for charging large upfront fees and failing to deliver promised cancellations
4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What happens if I don't pay my timeshare maintenance fees?": Unpaid timeshare maintenance fees can lead to collections, credit damage, and foreclosure, with consequences varying by state law
5. Florida Senate: Florida law requires a rescission period during which timeshare buyers can cancel their purchase, which is the fastest legitimate way out of a Westgate timeshare contract.
6. U.S. Department of Justice: A timeshare exit company owner was criminally prosecuted for fraud, illustrating the warning signs of timeshare exit scams.